Bingo calculations help elderly people keep their brains alert

The old bingo call sign for number nine - doctor's orders - is true of the game itself, a study found.

Bingo makes you think faster than non-players and keeps you more alert into old age, a researcher told a British Psychological Society conference.

Julie Winstone, of Southampton University, said players were faster and more accurate than non-bingo players on tests measuring mental speed, the ability to scan for information, and memory.

Her research found older players even outperformed younger counterparts, suggesting keeping the brain active keeps it sharper for longer.

The finding came as no surprise to the National Bingo Association, which said the game was played by three million people with an average age of 49.

"The blue rinse brigade dominated it 15 years ago. But then it was taken up by celebrities Denise Van Outen, Elle Macpherson, Robbie Williams, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Bianca and Jade Jagger," said Gloria Pattinson, an association spokeswoman.

"These acted as role models for younger people, who started going to evening sessions before moving on to clubs and pubs. Older people still go to morning and afternoon sessions.

"The skill needed in bingo is quite high which is why these findings are no surprise. You have to be a good listener and search for numbers quickly."

Ms Winstone said: "Any mental or physical activity is good for you but bingo involves searching for digits which is particularly sensitive to the ageing process."

She recruited 112 people - half were bingo players - and divided them into the 18-40 and 60-82 age groups.

She added: "I got them to scan a grid for single digits, pairs of digits and then three digits. The older bingo players were both quicker and made less errors than the older non-bingo players - and the younger bingo players.

"In bingo it is very important not to miss a number and you have to sustain your attention sometimes for several hours.

"Concentration has been shown to decline with age so bingo could be helping older people sustain their attention for longer."